Executive coach Kristin Hendrix knew she was burned out when she started to learn how to cook, revealing what she calls a "hyper-fixation" on something that didn't fulfill her in the way writing, coaching and exercising did, which made her realize she needed to get back to doing things that "refill my internal bank account." Some signs of burnout you can identify early include feeling perpetually exhausted, frustrated or disengaged from your work and other activities, writes executive coach Rebecca Zucker.

Put it into practice: Hendrix spiraled into burnout by putting the needs of others ahead of her own, something that can steal your joy and make you feel pessimistic or cynical about life. "It's typically not any single cause, but usually the convergence of a number of elements that, when unaddressed or unmanaged over time, ultimately lead to burnout," notes Zucker.

Some employees are turning to "quiet vacationing" to take time off without using vacation time, according to a Harris Poll survey, which found that 37% of millennials had taken time off without informing employers. Leaders need to be sensitive to their team's needs and set clear policies around vacation time and the need for employees to take time off, says human resources consultant Conor Hughes.

Put it into practice: Although it may sound tempting, quiet vacationing might not offer the same relaxation as a true vacation. "While it provides some short-term benefits, employees need to fully recharge without distractions," Hughes says.

Uncertainty can cause stress among employees, and leaders should take care to communicate with transparency and honesty, writes Aytekin Tank, the founder and CEO of Jotform. Tank recommends establishing forums for dialogue, such as an all-hands meeting, setting up office hours either in-person or remotely and leading with a sense of optimism to boost transparency.

Put it into practice: Clear communication can alleviate uncertainty and leaders should be prepared to answer questions. "There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the idea is to show your team that you are meaningfully accessible," Tank writes.

Get yourself into a productive flow state by blocking off time for deep work during your peak energy hours, setting up in a location that is conducive for inspiration, delegating tasks to free up your attention and letting others know you'll be unavailable, writes Bernard Coleman, the VP of people at Swing Education. "Blocking head-down time on your Google calendar or in Outlook helps set clear boundaries and can minimize interruptions," Coleman notes.

Soda cans bottoms are beveled with a concave design for two reasons -- most importantly, it helps keep the pressurized soda from bursting -- and they can easily be stacked on top of one another. It is that latter feature that one TikTok creator has exploited, demonstrating how to use the leverage of the beveled bottom of one can to open the pop-top of another.

Last year, I knew I was burning out. My job as the pastor and founder of a spiritual community that had been going strong for nearly 14 years was no longer bringing me joy. We had always been small, but closing for a year during the pandemic and doing only online celebrations had depleted our already tiny attendance, and it seemed that we were not going to regain our in-person numbers.

We still had bills to pay, and the dwindling attendance and contributions were exacerbating the situation. We looked for new income streams and found a few, but that required more work from all of us, but most of it fell to me to do. I already had a full-time job, but now, I had three!

Burnout was inevitable.

Kristen Hendrix and Rebecca Zucker offer valuable advice I wish I had seen last year. Hendrix warns that burnout is approaching when you put the needs of others ahead of self-care and release the other activities in your life that give you a sense of satisfaction.

Zucker offers a range of questions to ask that can help you identify burnout before you're already toasted to a crisp. The questions that would have helped  me include: "Where do I feel the most ineffective?" and "What did I previously enjoy about work that I no longer do?"

I think if I had identified the answer to these questions earlier, I might not have burned out. It's hard to feel joy in something when you feel like nothing you do is effective. Asking these questions before the burnout may have helped to identify solutions.

If you're feeling a little singed right now, it could be the best time to explore these questions before the burnout fire begins to rage in your own life and work.

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